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The Dangers of Hookah Smoking

Used for centuries, hookah originated in ancient Persia and India. It is typically practiced in groups, with a tube passed from person to person. It is known by many different names, including narghile, argileh, shisha, hubble-bubble, and goza. But don’t be confused by the exotic names: hookah smoking is not safe. It carries many of the same health dangers as smoking cigarettes.

Hookah Use in the U.S.

Hookah smoking is most common among university students

In 2010, nearly one in five 12th grade students had used a hookah in the past year

Youth and the community should recognize hookah use as a dangerous practice and not a safe alternative to cigarette smoking.

Hookah is NOT a safe alternative to cigarettes

Hookah smoke is as toxic as smoke from cigarettes and contains addictive nicotine

Hookah smokers may absorb higher concentrations of the same toxins found in cigarette smoke

Using a hookah is equivalent to, and can be worse than, smoking cigarettes

An hour-long hookah session includes 200 puffs, while an average cigarette is 20 puffs

The volume of smoke inhaled during a typical hookah session is 150 times the smoke inhaledby a person smoking a cigarette

Even after passing through water, hookah smoke contains high levels of carbon monoxide, heavy metals, and cancer causing chemicals

Health Effects of Hookah

Hookah smoking has the same negative health effects as cigarette smoking, including:

“Smoking a hookah should be considered a ‘gateway drug’ – hookahs are a gateway to cancer, chemotherapy, and radiation treatments. There is NO safe level of hookah use.”

-- Stephen A. Haering, MD, MPH, FACPM, Health Director

“Selling sweet-flavored tobacco to naïve high school and college kids in a cool dispenser (a hookah) is really just selling kids candy-flavored poison in attractive packaging. I find those selling hookah products just as morally reprehensible as those selling hard drugs to our kids. Both are dealers in death and disease.”